Special Parliamentary.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 66, 14 October 1875, Page 6

Special Parliamentary.

THE TAIRUA REPORT.

The Tairaa Committee report that they were appointed to inquire into the circumstances connected with the question of the transfer of the Tairua and Pakarati blocks, in the province of Auckland, to the provincial administration. The Tairua block, of 36,080 acres, was conveyed by the natives to the Queen on the 7th December, 1872, without any reservation being expressed in the body : of the deed, except of timber rights. On the 24th June, 1874, the block was proclaimed under the Waste Lands Act, subject to the Auckland waste lands law; on the 25th July, 1874 i Mr Mackay wrote to the Auckland Provincial Government that the natives wanted a reserve of 100 acres at Tairua, hut the reserve was not denned on the grant. On the 15th July, the conveyance from the natives to the Queen was registered, and on the 14th April, 1875, the surveyors appointed by the Provincial Government reported the desirability of reserving toe available s#e. for a township, and on the 15th May, 1875, the Provincial Government heard that this same site was being surveyed on behalf of the natives, and Mr Mackay did not report the selection of the reserve until after the Buryey; had been made. On the 2nd July, 1875, the Provincial Government learned, for the first time, that the only township site had been taken as the Native reserve of 1000 acres, and that the natives had leased it to an interpreter named Guilding,' in Mr Mackay's employ. Guilding had had full knowledge of the transactions connected with, the reserve from the very first. Guilding subsequently admitted Mr O'Halloran, another of Mr Mackay's clerks, as a partner in this lease. Mr Mackay was not cognisant of lhi& transaction until after its completion, and he'says in evidence that he expressed his disap* proval of it. Guilding and O'Halloran were employed by Mr Mackay both in his private and public capacity. The Committee expressed an opinion that the leasing of the reserve by persons employed by Mackay, presumably with special information on the subject, not accessible to the public generally, is open to the greatest objection. The facts relating to the acceptance by Mr Crippen (a clerk of Mr Mackay) of a share of the prospectors* claim at Tairua are as follows: — The'prospectors asked their agent (W. A. Graham} to off er a share to Mackay, the General Government agent. Mackay refused, giving as his reason that it would perhaps be used against him in his official capacity. He was then asked if he would like it to be given to O'Halloran, and he objected, as O'Halloran was connected with him by marriage; but he suggested that it might be given to Crippen, who had been a faithful servant of his. It was accordingly given to Crippen, and from O'Halloran's evidence it appeared that the share was divided equally between them. It was afterwards sold for £2000, and O'Halloran. got £800. Mackay states positively that he himself was not directly or indirectly interested in the share. The committee considered this transaction highly improper, and that, whilst Mr Mackay declined a share himself lie should have peremptorily refused to allow any of the persons in his employment to accept it. The Committee proceeded to comment on the terms of Mackay's employment as a land purchase commissioner, acting partly for Government and partly for private individuals. This she Committee condemned, and was of opinion that an agent situated in that way should not be allowed to determine the nature and rights of private persons. The Committee also suggest legislation to settle rights, and strongly condemn the system under which O'Haßoran and Crippen were able to use information not accessible to

the public, and- recommend that all persons employed as agents of the Government', in the purchase of native lands, whether paid by. salary or by commission, should be. taken to be Government officers, subject to the ordinary rules and regulations of the pubUc service. The committee also recommended that no man employed by the Government to purchase land should be allowed to traffic in land for himself.